Understanding fertility management practices of cocoa farmers in the Centre and South region of Urcil, Kenfack Essougong123; M. Slingerland1; L. Woittiez1; K. Giller1; S. Mathe3; P Ijang Tata Ngome4; W. Vanhove5; P. Boudes6; C. Leeuwis2 1Plant Production Systems, Wageningen University & Research 2Knowledge Technology and Innovation, Wageningen University & Research 3International Institute for Tropical Agriculture, Yaounde, Cameroon 4Institute for Agricultural Research and Development, Yaounde, Cameroon 5Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium 6Agrocampus Ouest, Rennes,

Abstract Results and Discussion In Africa, cocoa yields remain low, partly due to soil fertility constraints. Peoples’ Farmers knowledge of soil fertility indicators and SFMPs perceptions, closely coupled with their knowledge are key factors explaining their Major indicators of fertile are high yield, flora abundance and dark colour behaviour. We investigated Cameroonian cocoa farmers soil fertility perceptions, soils (Figure 1). In M&I, farmers use more SFM technologies than in . 28-29 knowledge and management practices (SFMPs). Soil fertility perception, inputs farmers in M&I use inorganic fertilizer and tree planting against only 12-21 access, local habits and experience influence farmers’ SFMPs. Farmers rely on respectively in Mvila. In both areas, all the farmers rely on weeds residues to (in)organic fertilisers, weeding residues and trees planting to enhance soil improve soil fertility whereas compost and manure are rarely used (Figure 2). fertility. The main reason for not using soil fertility technologies varies from one technology to another. Farmers prioritise practices to increase yield and view Reasons explaining the non-use of soil fertility technologies SFMPs as the least important practices. Developing a stepwise approach to Table 2. Percentage of farmers mentioning reasons for not using SFM technologies distributed over 5 categories and frequency of farmers mentioning specific reasons within categories cocoa farming, considering farmers' priorities and practices' returns on Technologies Mineral Total for all investment is recommended to foster sustainable cocoa intensification. Manure Compost Trees planting Reasons stated fertilisers technologies Keywords: Adoption, prioritisation, intensification, knowledge, perceptions 1. Inability due to affordability/availability (%) 56 26 21 4 30 Lack of capital 44 1 4 2 51 Unavailability 28 35 26 1 90 2. Inability due to labour requirements (%) 2 27 22 3 15 Introduction Lack of labour/time 3 12 16 2 33 Arduousness 0 25 15 0 40 There is a spatial and temporal variability of cocoa yield and a large yield gap in 3. Satisfying soil fertility level (%) 16 10 9 19 13 the cocoa sector. Poor soil fertility is considered an important cause of low yield Satisfying soil fertility level 21 14 13 13 61 4. Knowledge/Experience (%) 14 36 48 73 39 in Africa. In cocoa farming, continuous harvesting without soil amendment leads Lack of knowledge on how to use 10 13 7 1 31 No previous experience 8 30 36 7 81 to fertility decline; part of the nutrients exiting the system through cocoa beans Unawareness utility for cocoa 0 7 7 0 14 harvesting. This accentuates low yield and contributes, in some areas, to forest Non-mastering production techniques 0 0 17 0 17 Lack of knowledge fertilising trees 0 0 0 41 41 degradation and due to cocoa farm expansion. Thus, it is 5. Others (%) 11 0 0 0 3 Destroy the soil 6 0 0 0 6 impossible for farmers, even in the early production phase to sustain yield Fear of dependency 4 0 0 0 4 without appropriate SFM. Consequently, enhancing soil fertility is essential to Promotion of organic agriculture 4 0 0 0 4 Total number occurrence 128 137 141 67 473 increase cocoa production with minimum negative environmental impact. The implementation of these practices requires farmers’ recognition of soil fertility Table 2 shows that farmers hardly use manure/compost because they are deficiency. To improve the design of interventions that aim at increasing cocoa insufficiently available, require much and arduous labour, and knowledge and yield through better cocoa soil management, understanding current farmers experience, which are lacking. Inorganic fertilizers are seen as costly, not always knowledge, perception and management of soil fertility is essential. This study available, and not necessarily needed or beneficial to the soil. intends to raise our understanding of how Cameroonian cocoa farmers Cocoa farming practices ranking in terms of contribution to high yield comprehend, view and manage soil fertility; and how important for yield they SFM technologies such as fertilizer application (rank 12), planting soil fertility consider SFMPs compared to other cocoa farming practices. enhancing species (rank 13) and manure/compost (rank 14) score lowest of factors contributing to high yield (Table 3). Methodology Table 3. Mean score and rank cocoa farming practices with respect to their importance for high yields AEZ t-test Study area and data collection Farming practices M&I Mvila Mean p-value Study carried out in two cocoa production area: Mvila (South region) and Harvest well ripe pods 4.45 (3) 4.60 (1) 4.53 (1) 0.256 Appropriate fermentation 4.58 (1) 4.45 (5) 4.52 (2) 0.387 Mbam-and-Inoubou (M&I, ) purposively chosen. Appropriate drying 4.58 (1) 4.30 (6) 4.44 (3) 0.106 Insecticides application 4.25 (7) 4.50 (3) 4.38 (4) 0.174 Table 1. Main differences between the studied area Shade management 4.17 (8) 4.50 (3) 4.34 (5) 0.03** Fungicides application 4.10 (9) 4.51 (2) 4.31 (6) 0.041** Division Pruning 4.25 (5) 4.28 (7) 4.27 (7) 0.844 Mbam and Inoubou Mvila Uses improved varieties 4.37 (4) 4.07 (8) 4.22 (8) 0.062 Sanitary harvest 4.32 (6) 4.02 (9) 4.17 (9) 0.117 Mean Temp (°C) 25 24 Sorting cocoa beans 3.97 (10) 3.95 (10) 3.96 (10) 0.946 Dominant Soils Haplic ferrallisols, and Ferralic cambisol Acric Ferralsols Appropriate storing 3.90 (11) 3.73 (11) 3.82 (11) 0.568 Fertiliser application 3.07 (12) 3.58 (12) 3.33 (12) 0.104 Rainfall (mm) 1300 1650 Planting species fertilising the soil 2.70 (13) 3.04 (13) 2.87 (13) 0.279 Dominant Vegetation Manure/Compost application 2.86 (14) 2.27 (14) 2.57 (14) 0.097 Low shrub savannah rich in Imperata cylindrica, Gallery forest Humid dense forest ** Means differences significant at 5% In brackets, rank by decreasing order of importance from 1 (most important) to 14 (least important) Semi-structured survey 120 farmers (60 per division; including 94 Men and 26 Women), purposively chosen; Conclusion 14 practices scored from 0 to 5 to indicate their importance to obtain high yield; Farmers mostly use indicators visible at first sights such as high yield and dark colour of soil to assess soil fertility. To enhance soil fertility, all farmers just leave 4-Point Likert-Scale assessment of farmers’ knowledge of soil fertility indicators weed residues on the fields. Up to 30 farmers use mineral fertilizer and /or tree Summary respondents socioeconomic characteristics planting in M&I whereas less do in Mvila. Inorganic fertilizer is perceived as In Mvila and M&I respectively, on average, farmers are 50 and 52 years old, expensive. Compost and manure have several barriers in terms of low have 17.6 and 17.2 years of experience in cocoa farming; own 4.6 and 3.3 ha of availability, high labour demands for application, and lack of knowledge. cocoa, and produced 979 and 792 kg of dry cocoa beans annually. Farmers attach little value to SFM technologies for high yield. Further investigations on the interdependencies between various cocoa farming practices and their combined effect on yield are needed. This could pave the Strongly agree Agree Disagree Strongly disagree Does not know M&I Mvila way to formulate a stepwise approach to cocoa farming to address the concern 100% 70 of low yield. Such an integrated approach should be accompanied by measures 90% 60 that increase inputs access and guarantee high returns on investment to foster 80% sustainable cocoa intensification. 70% 50

60% Number Number offarmers

Percentage respondents Percentage Acknowledgements 50% 40 Research financially supported by the Department of Plant Production Systems at WUR 40% 30 through the CocoaSoils program, on behalf of the Norwegian Agency for Development 30% Cooperation (NORAD). IRAD and ICRAF supported field work implementation. 20% 20 10% References 10

0% Kome, G. K., Enang, R. K., & Yerima, B. P. K. (2018). Knowledge and management of soil fertility by farmers in

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MV western Cameroon. Geoderma regional, 13, 43-51.

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Total Total Total Total Total Total Total Total Total 0 Meijer, S. S., Catacutan, D., Ajayi, O. C., Sileshi, G. W., & Nieuwenhuis, M. (2015). The role of knowledge, attitudes Indicator Flora Deep soil Ploughing Dark color Thick litter High yield Soil fauna Water Weeding Manure Compost Mineral Trees species abundance easiness layer retention residues fertiliser planting and perceptions[...] Int.J.Agr.Sust, 13(1), 40-54. https://doi.org/10.1080/14735903.2014.912493 Indicators Wessel, M., & Quist-Wessel, P. M. F. (2015). Cocoa production in West Africa, a review and analysis of recent developments. NJAS - Wag J of Life Sc., 74-75, 1-7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.njas.2015.09.001 Figure 1: Farmers Knowledge of Soil fertility indicators Figure 2: Farmers’ distribution according to SFMP’s implemented van Vliet, J. A., & Giller, K. E. (2017). Chapter Five - Mineral Nutrition of Cocoa: A Review. In D. L. Sparks (Ed.), Advances in Agronomy (Vol. 141, pp. 185-270): Academic Press.

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